8GB Messenger File

[Fonze]

Not sure what to think about this one. I was trying to delete some files to free up space and I saw that there is an 8gb file in the messenger folder in Local Settings.

You have to show system files. the file is located in documents and settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Messenger\<login name>\SharingMetadata\Working

the file is called Similarity Table_2 and is of size 8gb but size on disk is only 1mb

I'm using the beta for WLM. anyone have any idea why this file is so huge? probably a compressed database file, but it seemed kind of strange

[cchasem]

lmao i have no idea, but i had to post because of the weirdness of that.

so.. +1

[kronik]

yeh I was wondering the same about this file, came across it a while back, had to free some space so I just deleted it. I was using the beta WLM also at the time.

[amr_01]

From what i've read it's just a file that isn't reporting space correctly.

[Detroit]

Could explain why my hd was crumbled in half when I installed wlm :/

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

mines only 24MB...

[G4M3R]

Mine shows 8.01GIG as well.

[black.ops]

I don't even have a folder called SharingMetaData. =/

[trance]

ditto, but size on disk shouldn't be much more than a meg.

[Klownicle]

Confirming it to, but that would be hella cool compression for winrar :D

[The Grasshopper]

mine is 8.03GB...what is up with that? :iiam:

[ShaneSparky_YYZ]

This has been mentioned before, and yes it seems like a bug but when you delete this folder with that file in it, you don't see a decrease in space. I forget what kind of file you call these :wacko:

And for those who are saying they don't have it, you need WLM and make sure hidden files and folders are showing and system files aren't hidden too :) Then you'll see it.

[reveries]

is it called a pagefile? im not so sure

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

same here, i have it too.....(weird...)

[ShaneSparky_YYZ]

is it called a pagefile? im not so sure

Go to C:\Documents and Settings\REPLACE USERNAME HERE\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Messenger\E-MAIL ADDRESS HERE\SharingMetadata\Working

File is called, SimilarityTable_2

Btw, this was stated in the first post ;)

[jimbo11883]

I think it's called a sparse file.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

sparse file.....that's.....different....... *rushes off to google*

ok...it all is clear to me now......*wonders why it hasn't been implemented and advertised sooner.....*

[aberflasm]

Yeah i submited a bug report. feedback id: 28370

apparently others may have too. the files properties says it 8gb but only 1mb size on disk.

[bush]

i don't even have that one. what is it for?

[LUTZIFER]

So what size is it really, just 1 mb? And is it needed? I don't want 1 file wasting 8 gigs if it actually is.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

So what size is it really, just 1 mb? And is it needed? I don't want 1 file wasting 8 gigs if it actually is.

just google "sparse files" (without quotes)......I think I'll send in a bug report as well, as I have never ran into one of these, and MS may need to know...to the dude who started this, thanks for letting me know! I may have never even caught that! :wacko:

click me for info on sparse files and XP

[LispyGlitter2]

It's a bug. File a bug report and get on with your testing.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

It's a bug. File a bug report and get on with your testing.

awesome! thanks!!! :yes:

[Gibwar]

I don't know why the file is there, but i do know how. It is an NTFS sparse file, VMWare and VirtualPC make use of it as well... it allows you to make a 8GB, 16GB, 1Tb, etc file, but only use as much space as needed. Look for a program called mksparse.exe to do this :) use it with Filedisk and wala you have a viable new mountable system that only uses as much space as nessary.

[smartbuddy_82]

Hey People,

It does not use 8GB at all(it is impossible). I am saying this so confidently bec my C:\ drive is only 5GB (Total size) so I guess its some kind of reporting error by windows xp. Maybe they have to release some update for windows xp than for WLM 8.0. :)

Also even though I am using WLM 8.0 and also kept all my files visible I can only go till

C:\Documents and Settings\user name\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Messenger\email add

After I click on email add folder I only have 2 folders inside: Contacts & Sharing folders.

But yes the properties of email address folder shows Size: 8.01GB (this is impossible bec my c:\drive is just 5GB) and size on disk is 19.6MB.